Acetylene-gas generator.



PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

C. A. BUTLER. AGBTYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 23, 1903.

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C. A. BUTLER. AQETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED Junza, 1903. I

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AC ETY LEN E GA S (3 EN ERATOR.

i-PECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 745,037, dated November24, 1903. Application filed June 23,1903; Serial No. 162,754. (Nomodel.)

To (2% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES AUGUSTUS BUTLER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Port Townsend, in the county of Jefferson andState of Washington, have in-. vented a new and Improved Gas-Machine,of, which the following is a full, clear, and exact I will describe agas-machine'embodying my invention and then point out the novel featuresin the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a gasmachine embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the discharging or feedingmechanism. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation thereof on theline 3 3 ofFig. 2. Fig. eshows a resetting-bar employed, and Fig. 5 is a sectionaldetail showing the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism employed.

The generator of the machine comprises a fixed tank 5, in which the bell6 operates. Arranged in the upper portion of the bell is a funnel-shapedhopper 7, in which the carbid is placed, the same being passed throughan opening normally closed by a screwpressed cover 8. Arranged below thehopper is a rotary frame comprising uprights 9,With which the segmentaldischarging-plates 10 have swinging connection. These plates, as clearlyshown in Fig. 2, are pivoted to rods 11, which have bearings in saidupright portions 9. These several plates (here shown as four in number)meet at adjacent edges and at the center, the inner ends or apexes,however, being slightly cut away to permit the passage of a turning-rod12, which is connected to the cross-bars of the frame. This rod 12passes upward through a tube 13, the said tube being extended throughthe hopper and into a bell 14, arranged to rotate with 'the rod 12 in awater-cup 15.

The Water in the bell and cup serves as a seal to prevent any possibleescape of gas from the tube 13.

Attached to the lower end of the tube 13 and below the plane of theseveral plates, when said plates are in normal or closed position, isasegmental plate 16, designed to be engaged by two of the plates to holdthem in closed position, as indicated in Fig. 2. Ex-

tended partly around the frame is the resetting-rod 17. This rod hasitsupwardly-turned ends connected to the hopper, as shown in Fig. Land ithas a horizontal stretch 18 for a portion of its length and anupwardly-inclined or cam stretch 19 through a portion of its length.This resetting-rod is designed to be engaged, as will be hereinafterdescribed, by arms 20, extended outward from the plates 10. The bell 14is rigidly attached to the rod 12, and loosely mounted on the outer endof the rod is a pulley 21, carrying a pawl 22, designed to engage with arack 23 on the upper side of the bell 14.

Arranged at one side of the generator is the gasometer, consisting of afixed tank 24 and the bell 25. The bell is guided in its upwardmovements by rods 26, to the upper ends of which is connected atcross-bar 27, supporting pulleys 28 29. From the bell 25 a cord or chain30 extends upward over the pulley 28, thence around the pulley 21, andback over the pulley 29, and the free end is provided with acounterweight 31, which serves to keep "the cord or chain taut.

From the generator a pipe 32 extends into the gasometer, this'pipe beingprovided with a cut-off valve and a petcock 34:. Leading from thegasometer is a service-pipe 35, provided with a petcock 36, throughwhich dirt or sediment may be drained.

. As a means to permit the escape of gas should too great a supply be inthe gasometer I employ pipes 37 38, the pipe 37 being connected to thebell 25 and telescoping over the pipe 38, the said pipe 38 beingprovided with a port or outlet 39 for discharging into the atmosphere.The pipe 37 is provided with perforations 40, through which gas escapesto pass into the pipe 38 when said perforations are raised above thelevel of the water in the gasometer.

As a means for agitating the sediment that may accumulate in thegenerator I employ a scraper or scoop 41, which extends transverselyover the bottom of the generator at a slight upward curve. This scraperor scoop is attached to a rod 42, extended upward between the tank 5 andthe hell 6 and having bearings in lugs 43, attached to the innersurfaces of the tank, the upper end of the rod being provided with anoutwardly-extended handle 44. By oscillating the rod the sediment willbe stirred up, so that it may escape with water through the outlet 45 atthe bottom of the generator.

In the operation the carbid will pass from the hopper 7 through thespout 46 and fall upon one of the plates 10, that may be underneath thespout. It will be noted that the spout is at one side of the center orpractically in a position to discharge oarbid at the center of eachplate. As the gas is consumed and the gasometer-bell moves downward itwill rotate the pulley 21, which, through the medium of the pawl 22 andthe rack 23, will rotate the frame 9, carrying a loaded plate to aposition to bring its inner end out of engagement with the plate 16.Then this loaded plate will tilt and discharge its carbid. The arm 20 ofsaid plate when tilted upward will engage with the cam portion 19 of theresetting-rod. Of course at this time there will be another plateunderneath the spout 46 to receive a charge of carbid. The generator gaspassing into the gasometer will raise the bell 25, and the weight 31will rotate the pulley 21; but as the pawl at this time slides over theratchet there will be no back movement of the platecarrying frame. Asthe frame is again rotated the arm of the discharged plate will engagewith the horizon tal portion 18 of the resetting-rod, holding the platein its normal or closed position until its inner end again engages withthe plate 16.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patentl. In a gas-machine, a generator comprising a fixedportion and a bell, a carbid-hopper supported in the upperportion of thebell, a frame mounted to rotate below the hopper, a plurality of platesmounted to swing on the frame, means for rotating the frame, a segmentalplate for supporting certain of the discharging-plates in elevatedposition, and

means for returning the plates to elevatedposition after dischargingcarbid.

2. In a gas-machine, a generator comprising a fixed portion and a belltherein, a hop-- per in the upper portion of the bell, a rod extendedthrough the hopper, a frame attached to the lower end of said rod belowthe hopper, a plurality of segmental-shaped plates mounted to swing onthe frame, a plate of segmental form for supporting the first-namedplates, arms extended outward from the several plates, and aresetting-rod extended partly around the frame the said rod having ahorizontal portion and an upwardly-inclined portion designed to beengaged by said arms.

3. 'In a gas-machine, a generator, ahopper arranged in the generator, aplurality of discharge-plates arranged underneath the hopper, a rotaryframe on which the plates are mounted to swing, a rod extended upwardthrough the hopper, a pulley on said rod, a gasometer, and a connectionbetween said pulley and the gasometer, whereby the pulley is rotated torotate the frame when the bell of the gasometer lowers.

4. In a gas-machine, a generator, a carbidhopper arranged in the bell ofthe generator, a tube extended through the hopper, a rod extendedthrough said tube, a bell attached to the upper portion of said rod, awater vessel in which said bell is mounted to rotate, dischargingdevices supported on the lower end of said rod within thegenerator-bell, a pulley loosely mounted on the outer end of said rod, apawl-and-ratchet connection between said pulley and the bell attached tothe rod, a gasometer, pulleys arranged above the gasometer, a cord orchain attached to the gasometer-bell, and passing over one of saidpulleys, thence around the first-named pulley and over the other pulleyabove the gasometer, and a weight on the free end of said cord or chain.

5. In a gas-machine, a generator comprising a fixed portion and a bell,a hopper carried by the bell, a plurality of plates below the hopper,the said plates being mounted to rotate and to swing vertically andindependently one of another, means for successively releasing theplates, and means for returning the plates to carbid-receiving position.

In testimonywhereofl have signed myname to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. 0. HOUSE, HAROLD J. M. BAKER.

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